John Travolta Beats Himself Up For His Botched Idina Menzel Oscar Intro

John Travolta has had his good moments in front of a crowd, but his mispronunciation of Idina Menzel‘s name at the Oscars wasn’t his best moment. He gets it and is only too happy to pile on along with everyone else. “I’ve been beating myself up all day,” Travolta says. “Then I thought…what would Idina Menzel say, She’d say, Let it go, let it go! Idina is incredibly talented and I am so happy Frozen took home two Oscars Sunday night!”

No worry, John. People will have a hard time remembering who won in a couple weeks. At least the memory of you, Idina, and Liza Minnelli, will linger.

I’ve seen her twice in Wicked and still couldn’t remember her name — and now I do!

Thank you, Mr. Travolta.

Glenn • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Really? Is that what Idina Menzel would say? Did he learn that when he called her to personally apologize?

Nate • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

We don’t know that he didn’t. Try to be as gracious about it as she has been.

Cree8teevgrl • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

hey I know John and I can tell you not only did he probably call her personally and send her a bunch of flowers but probably wanted to meet with her in person to apologize.

Diane Katz • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

I agree with you. I worked with John on “Welcome Back, Kotter” and got to know him pretty well. I can’t believe his basic kind and sensitive nature has changed over the years.

LOPES • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

ADELE DAZEEEEEEM!

simon • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

what an insincere apology. hope his publicist didn’t spend too much time typing that up.

Kyle • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Errm was that supposed to be an apology?

Potato • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

It’s okay, Jim Trevelzno. We forgive you.

Anonymous • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Everyone now knows her name is right! And finally. So well deserved. She is super super talented, and NICE! All the best Idina!!!

A. Commenter • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

You’re right, and it put Travolta back in the spotlight and made his publicist happy. Now we can get over it and let it go.

No One Of Consequence • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

He made a mistake and we’ve all had some fun with it. Most entertaining thing to come out of the Oscar ceremony in a while.

Chris • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

I can’t believe the big deal people made of it. You mean someone mispronounced another’s NAME? In front of other PEOPLE? As if it’s never happened before, or something.

roger 44 • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Yes , the social media users are like vultures that love to attack celebs for everything . Now , more , than ever famous folks can’t make mistakes . I was more annoyed and disturbed by Jennifer Lawrence’s mentally unstable behavior at the Oscars . She came across as stoned or drunk or both . Her very forced quirky / middle school girl act has already expired . Jennifer ‘s publicist needs to intervene big time .

joe • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

I disagree with this article. people will remember these performances that won this year for a lot longer than two weeks. Cate’s performance and Best Actress win will go down as one of the most memorable and Best of all time. I mean Meryl in Sophie, Liz in Virginia Woolf, Vivien in Streetcar, Kate as Eleanor memorable! I dont see people forgetting Lupita and The Dallas boys either especially considering how socially important both the films they were a part of are. trust this was a big, important year! Travolta on the other hand…ugh. why was he even there? when was he last relevant to film? ’95? like he dont know who Idina Menzel is! Although folks are talkin about him maybe more than we wouldve had he not “accidentally” butchered her name.

Hahaha • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Agree on Travolta, but really? The performances this year were a big ol’ snooze. None of them will be remembered. Unless, please, tell me, without looking it up, who won the Oscars for performances in 2009? Yeah, only a few years later, and no one remembers without having to search it. Nope, none of these will be remembered. Only one worth anything was Hanks in Phillips, which wasn’t even nominated. Everything else is incredibly forgettable.

brian • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

you must have seen different movies than the rest of us.

Good • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

It was a dick move not to even bother top recheck to pronunciation. He should be beating himself up. And how totally predictable that he’d let himself off the hook a mere sentence after sorta kinda apologizing but really making it all about him.

Janet • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

Where in the world did he get that name from….it’s not even close to hers….One can only imagine what she was thinking when she heard it…she probably looked around to see if someone else was on stage with her….Unbelievable….

James • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

I think Mr. Travolta might be dyslexic—or have a serious sight problem. I don’t see how he got what he said from how her name is spelled unless it was somehow messed up in his head or he just saw random letters. There were photos of other presenters rehearsing names. Christoph Waltz got Lupita’s name right and Lawrence got Chiwetel’s right too, so, just don’t think it is just mispronunciation.

Confirmed by a friend that Mr. Travolta did not go to Oscar rehearsals.

Do Scene • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

a DIL…

Adela Nazeem • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

He should admit he was not able to clearly read the teleprompter. He needs new contact lenses or actual eye glasses and he’s afraid to admit that his eye sight is going bad. Her name was blurry to him and he’s not familiar with her so he made a mistake due to bad eye sight.

burrrbank • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

No – he had one thing to do that night. One simple task. He knew well ahead of time what was expected and who he would be introducing. He blew it. Big time.

Mark Kelley • on Mar 4, 2014 2:53 pm

As they all are that was fun. (I think Fallon’s gonna crush. He’s gonna make The Tonight Show his own.) Don’t know what the clip has to do with John Travolta. Looking forward to Idina Menzel’s new Lincoln Center show. Been a fan since maybe three days into previews of “Rent” at New York Theater Workshop. She’s a definite fifties-style Broadway musical star breaking out in different directions and they don’t happen much these days. It’s good to see it happening again although she is not your mother’s Mary Martin obviously.